Rooney is inside the final 18 months of his contract and was the subject of a failed Chelsea bid back in pre-season.

Mourinho now holds out little hope of landing last summer's number one target, but on the eve of United's trip to Stamford Bridge he suggested United could sell to a "non-domestic rival" in the coming months.

Mourinho told national newspapers: "Man United made it clear in the summer they don't swap or sell players to their direct rivals.

"They were clear in the way they approached the Rooney situation. For them, it's pretty clear. They don't swap. They don't sell.

"I think maybe this summer they will try to sell to a non-direct rival. But they were very clear."

Moyes does not feel the Chelsea manager is correct in his assessment that Rooney could be on his way to an overseas club, but he refused to resort to similar tactics regarding Mourinho's players, including the unsettled Juan Mata.

"I don't talk about players at other clubs. It's not my style," the Scot said.

"Only time will tell and give you the answer (about Rooney). I completely disagree. I can only tell you I disagree.

"The club do the right things, there is no doubt about that. We'll make sure we do the things we need to do."

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.